Photo Flash: Go Backstage at CATS with Martin Samuel
By: Alan Henry Jul. 20, 2013
BroadwayWorld Toronto Contributor Alan Aronshtam went backstage at Cats at the Panasonic Theatre to chat with Martin Samuel, who plays the "rock-star" cat Rum Tum Tugger.
My trip backstage began going through the stagedoor, straight into the house, and down a staircase under the stage into the "under/backstage."
Backstage, not a drop of space is wasted. Immediately by the staircase is a audio control desk, with dressing rooms lining the hallway. We continue down the hall, turning right and walking into dressing Room #1, which is shared by four of the cast members, including Martin Samuel.
Martin arrives and after brief introductions, he sets to work immediately. When asked how long it takes him to complete the makeup application process he says "Well, I could do it in five minutes, but I'm not sure what I'd look like. Maybe a Cat who's been run over by a car?" He continues "I can do it in 15, maybe 20 minutes. I've done it quite a few times now."
As Martin continues to work on his makeup, a stage manager comes in to the dressing room to make sure everythings going well, before heading on to check on the rest of the cast.
Martin continues to describe his makeup application process as he goes, telling me how he sticks to a strict makeup design done by the creative team, but still finds small ways to sneak in some originality. In order to achieve the colours neccesary, he mixes different shades of brown and grey.
"I try to be elaborate and fancy with the makeup, which is why we added the gold star (above the left eye), which is very Rock-ish. At the same time, he (Rum Tum Tugger) has to be a little flirtatious and wants to look as best as he can, so we make it as clean as possible."
Martin says his favourite part of the process is smearing white makup all around his mouth, which he does to make people laugh every night, before neating it out with the brush.
"It doesn't have to be perfect right away" he says as he does this, "I fix it as we go along."
When asked what his favourite part about being in Cats is - Martin doesn't get to answer. Susan Cuthbert (Jennyanydots, others) walks by and shouts "Working with me!" Martin sassily replies "What's your name again?" and the banter continues.
When the joking ended, Martin answered in a more serious demeanor: "I love this part. This character sits very well with me. This is my third production of Cats, and I've always been Rum Tum Tugger."
"I first auditioned for Cats in Europe, when the UK company was doing a European tour. I went in and danced for them, and the director really liked me for McCavity. Then they asked me to also learn the Rum Tum Tugger song to see if I could sing. I stayed up all night learning the song, and came back the next day for the call back. I danced and everything, and they said great - so I could tell I was McCavity. They weren't going to audition me anymore. Then the assistant says "Wait, we gave him the song," so they ask me if I learned it. I said - hell yeah, as I had been up all night learning it. So I sang for them, and they said forget McCavity - from then on I was Rum Tum Tugger. It's funny, because if the assistant hadn't asked me to sing, I would have played a very different role."
Martin goes on to tell a funny story: "During the show - I do a bit where I steal a purse and take the keys. Now - it's not really that persons keys - I have it on me before we start. One night, a lady knocks on the stage door and asks for her keys back because she had to go home. I tell her to go through her purse, and then she found them."
Martin finished up his makeup, and then he and I then went to the wig room to see how he attatches his wig on his head. His microphone is a tiny dot sticking out from the front of his wig. After making sure it was firmly attatched, we went back to his dressing room for him to put on his leotard, shoes, gloves and mane. Finally, he was dressed and ready to go for the show!
See the entire preparation process, from start to showtime!
All backstage photos by Alan Aronshtam
BroadwayWorld Toronto Editor Alan Aronshtam arrives at the Panasonic Theatre.
Martin Samuel sits down and prepares to start the makeup process.
Martin Samuel strikes a cat pose pre-makeup.
Martin Samuel begins applying some brown to his face.
Martin Samuel adds a light gray on the upper portion of his face.
Martin Samuel adds a light gray on the upper portion of his face.
Martin Samuel begins painting a white area around his mouth.
Martin Samuel skillfully holds a paint brush while applying his Cats makeup.
Martin Samuel begins working on his nose.
Martin Samuel continues downwards to paint his lips a dark black.
Martin Samuel slowly begins to resemble his Character, Rum Tum Tugger, and gives us a playful smile.
Martin Samuel examines his handy work in the mirror.
Martin Samuel applies a setting powder to keep the makeup in place.
Martin Samuel begins work on his right eye.
Martin Samuel tells me an interesting story as he continues applying his makeup.
Martin Samuel paints around his eye.
Martin Samuel adds a flare of colour to his eye.
Martin Samuel places setting powder on his face to keep his makeup in place, meanwhile his dressing-room mate Michel LaFleche sits down to begin work on his own transformation.
Martin Samuel begins work on his second eye, which is very different from the first.
Michel LaFleche begins painting his face while Martin Samuel checks out his progress in the mirror.
Martin Samuel paints small details using a brush.
Michel applies setting powder.
Martin examines his progess another time, to make sure everything is as it should be.
Michel and Martin work side by side.
A photo depicting the entire workstation where Martin and Michel apply makeup.
Martin Samuel applies setting powder one final time.
Martin Samuel gives us a preview of his most ferocious pose.
Martin Samuel gets ready to put on his wig.
Martin Samuel puts on his wig.
Martin Samuel applies some glue to keep the wig in place.
Martin Samuel strikes another Cat-like pose for the camera.
Martin Samuel jokingly demonstrates some of his other skills.
Martin Samuel puts on his leotard.
Martin Samuel shows off the custom painted Capezio dance shoes.
Martin Samuel shows us the almost-finished transformation.
Martin Samuel puts on his sleeves and gloves.
Martin Samuel puts on his sleeves and gloves.
Rum Tum Tugger puts on his mane to complete the transformation.
Martin Samuel - now fully dressed poses for the camera.
Martin Samuel - now fully dressed poses for the camera.
Martin Samuel poses for the last photo - fully dressed and ready to go!
Martin Samuel (Rum Tum Tugger) hits the stage for the show! Photo by Raoul Da Silvia
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